Foods

MOODS AND FOODS by Blair Lewis, PA

The goal of a good nourishment and cleansing program is to allow the mind and senses to develop greater clarity and joy.  Any combination of foods and cleansing techniques that accomplish this goal for a specific individual is considered to be a good program.  However, such a program will also accomplish most of the personal goals the individual was originally pursuing. 

One may enter the study of diet and nutrition with the goal of losing or gaining weight, overcoming fatigue, or improving health — while these goals are undoubtedly common, they are not a satisfying end.  For body weight will always fluctuate, as will our body gradually deteriorate, and our state of health wax and wane.  The state of our mind, however; may continue to evolve with greater clarity and joy, if only we carefully nourish and exercise our body, mind and emotions.  This presentation is based on this higher goal of self-realization, knowing quite well that many initially seek more physically oriented outcomes.

In understanding the effect of food on the mind and body, one only has to turn to direct experience to realize how vivid this connection is.  From using coffee to keep you awake, to noticing all the sleepy minds after a Thanksgiving feast, to being too excited to eat or sleep, and likewise too anxious to do anything but eat or smoke.  The interrelationships of mind, body and diet are unlimited. 

For our use, foods will not be judged as either “good” or “bad,” but rather the emphasis will be on helping one to see the difference in the effects of various foods and drink.  Acknowledging this connection, Ayurvedic physicians, since ancient times, classified every activity, habit, food, and medicine into three categories (tamasic, rajasic,  and sattvic) based on their effect on the mind, body, and emotions.  We will apply these categories to food and menu planning, however; these same categories can also be used to organize one’s understanding of the effect of all other activities in daily life.

Tamasic
The "tamasic" foods lead one to a state of inertness, dullness, and sloth.  These are known as the "dead" foods which contain no vitality or life.  These foods are heavy and sluggish and may cause irritability and restlessness.  The endurance of one’s energy is very short when eating such foods, the most dramatic illustration is that of the tiger and elephant.  A tiger mainly eats tamasic foods and can fight for 3-4 hours.  The elephant, a vegetarian, eats mainly sattvic foods and can fight for 3-4 days.  Alertness and concentration is very difficult soon after eating tamasic foods. Today’s foods that could be classified as tamasic would include those with heavy preservatives and artificial additives which may serve as an irritant when ingested, most meats, thick heavy oily foods and low-grade alcoholic drinks.

Rajasic
"Rajasic" foods are the stimulating activating foods.  These foods energize the nervous system, but not necessarily in a manner of great clarity and creativity.  Rather these foods push you beyond your normal capacity; you might recognize these foods as coffee, tea, spicy foods, rich sauces, sweets, etc.  Historically, rajasic foods were always of good quality and freshness, hence the origin of the word "raja" - kingly, or fit for a king. Such foods would encourage aggression and domination (as if you were the King of your clan - but not in nice way). Rajasic foods lalways leave you busy and bothered by the world.

Sattvic
"Sattvic" foods encourage a balanced creative lifestyle where one can feel the full range of human emotions and yet recover quickly to a state of contentment.  The effect of such food brings about a state of restful alertness and enhances one’s compassion and zest for living.  These are clean burning foods that leave little to no residue on the nervous system, such foods include fresh fruit and vegetables, legumes and beans, wholesome unrefined grains, and fresh raw cow’s milk.

Menu Planning & Taste Pharmacology
As we have seen, the quality and freshness of the food can have a powerful effect on the consumer.  And according to ayurveda, the very taste itself determines the psychological and pharmacological effects of the food or spice.

When menu planning is done with an awareness of these three food classifications, you can choose your mood and endurance level by what you choose to eat.  For the many people who feel they are a victim of their own moods or the moods of their loved ones, meal planning offers a possible solution.  Please give it a try.

To learn more on Ayurvedic meal planning, take a look at Amadea Morningstar's book, Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners.